The League of Women Voters of the Tiffin Area supports measures that provide attractive parks and adequate recreational opportunities, which contribute to the mental and physical well being of all people. Local units of government should deliver recreational services in the most responsive, effective and efficient manner.

Position:

In order to obtain these objectives, the League supports hiring full-time, year-round city and county recreation directors to develop comprehensive coordinated programs. In addition, the League supports:

1.    The use of school facilities for organized and supervised year-round activities; 2.    Establishment of land acquisition fund;
3.    Development of parklands according to recreational land use guidelines;
4.    Adequate funding for improved recreational program and facilities;
5.    Citizens' input to insure that the needs of the community are met.

Background on position:

This item was adopted as a recommended program item at the Annual Meeting in April 1974. Study leading to consensus included a tour of Tiffin parks and publication of a pamphlet, "History of Tiffin's Parks."

The League actively supported the merger of the Park Board and Recreation Board, which was accomplished with the passage of the City Charter in 1977. In the spring of 1977 League solicited citizen input on the proposed Highland Park swimming pool ballot issue, but took no official position on the issue. League continued to urge support of a year-round recreation director, although this received little support from the Park Board at the time. The pamphlet, "History of Tiffin's Parks," was printed and distributed in the community in 1977. The Park Board meetings were observed from 1977-80. In 1981 the study was combined under the umbrella "City Planning, Financing and Services" The position has been retained to take any appropriate action which would encourage citizen input to the Park Board.

In the fall of 1988 the city reaped a substantial "windfall" from the inheritance tax from the estate of Jane Frost Kalnow. A proposal to earmark the funds for construction of a new municipal swimming pool received support from the League, based on the position for "adequate recreational opportunities."

Tiffin City Council appointed a full-time Parks and Recreation Director in 1994.

Responding to a request to the Park Board to sell a portion of Tiffin parkland, League, in 1998, presented its position to the Board emphasizing the importance of maintaining the existing acreage of the Tiffin parks. The Park Board did not take any action on the request.

At the May 2001 Annual Meeting, Judy Purdam, Tiffin Parks and Recreation Director, presented an update on the city parks.

2003--2004 Goal: Retain the position. May include having an informational meeting and observing the Tiffin Park Board.